Tian Xiang Yuan Vegetarian Restaurant 天香苑 — Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur

Tian Xiang Yuan — where the char siew is fake, but the joy is real. This long-standing spot has built a reputation for its Buddhist-friendly cuisine, serving up everything from delicate dim sum to hearty-looking ala carte meals (which we eyed hungrily but didn’t try this round — next time for sure!).

The restaurant keeps things peaceful and delicious. No classic hongkie trolleys here — you scan a QR code, click your cravings into the app, and voila! Dishes appear at your table faster than you can say “Wait, did I just order four char siew buns?”

We may have gone on a bit of a “char siew” spree (oops), and tried: • Char Siew Buns – pillowy and satisfyingly sweet with char siew fillings • Shanghai Dumplings – well-seasoned soy meat filling but without the soupy goodness (the skin was • Rice Rolls (Chee Cheong Fun) – silky smooth with savoury char siew fillings, the chilli adds a kick but can be really spicy! • Mushroom Porridge – warm, comforting and umami filled of different bites of mushroom paired with the ginger bits • Fried Yam Pastry – golden, crispy on the outside and filled with sweet char siew (yes another char siew dish🙃) • Radish Cake – soft-centred with a crispy sear

The balance of flavours with the hot tea is what elevates the whole experience. With fragrant and mellow scents, its the perfect way to cleanse your palate between dim sum bites.

While we didn’t dive into the ala carte menu this time, dishes like the ginger-steamed or salt-chilli hericium mushrooms and sizzling giant conch mushroom looked interesting and the tofu seems tempting too whilst transported to the next table. Also spotted: the mysterious yet oddly appealing ginger d*ck yee mee, emperor noodles and...

Dim sum for vegetarians? Sign me up, but also, bring backup, because the menu reads like a Buddhist monk’s cheat day. Nestled in the misty, slightly chaotic labyrinth that is Taman OUG, Tian Xiang Yuan does a valiant job of reimagining Chinese classics without the carnage.

Weekend mornings are a ritual here. Elbow your way past families claiming tables like it’s ancestral land, and you’ll be rewarded with mock “siew mai,” “har gao” without the guilt, and deep-fried radish cake that could convince a meat-eater that tofu is the future. The sambal mock fish is spicy enough to trigger existential reflection, and the curry mutton? Fragrant, chewy, and suspiciously addictive.. definitely not from a real mutton.

Prices aren’t rock-bottom, but you’re paying for variety, freshness, and a semi-spiritual experience where your conscience stays clean. Service teeters between zen and zombified depending on the crowd, and some dishes vanish faster than your will to share.

Would return. Would fight someone for the last BBQ “pork” bun. Wouldn’t bring a carnivore who thinks “vegetarian food” means boiled broccoli...

🌱 Vegetarian for 12 Years – Honest Review 🌱

Tried the Cereal Abalone Mushroom, Stir-Fried Water Spinach, Chinese Toon Shoots with Eggplant, and Claypot Tofu. Overall, the dishes were well-prepared, flavorful, and never overly salty.

🍄 Cereal Fried Abalone/Oyster Mushroom – Crispy, fragrant, and absolutely delicious. 🍆 Chinese Toon leaves with Eggplant & Long Bean – Aromatic and full of depth, one of the highlights of the meal. 🥘 Claypot Tofu – Comforting and well-balanced, perfect with rice.

💰 Price: 5/5 – Affordable and reasonable 🤝 Service: 5/5 – Fast, polite, and efficient 🍽️ Variety: 5/5 – Impressive range of vegetarian dishes

✨ Final Verdict: Flavorful food at fair prices, served with warmth and efficiency. Even my non-vegetarian family loved it, which speaks volumes. I’ll definitely return to explore...